Experts explain its geological activity in the depths of the celestial body
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A dwarf planet Ceres on which went into orbit research unit Dawn last year, holds many mysteries and unusual bright spots – only one of them. A recent study conducted by experts from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, was devoted to another question – why on its surface there are no large craters. Theoretical calculations show that in the past they have been born, but in this case up to now it was unclear how they could disappear.
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Scientists have presented a computer model, according to which over 4.5 billion years of solar system on the Ceres had to drop 10-15 meteorites that would leave craters with diameters greater than 400 kilometers, and about 40 space objects, craters from collisions which would be more than 100 kilometers in diameter. However, observations show that craters with a diameter overcomes the hundred-kilometer mark, or at least close to it, on the dwarf planet just 16, with the largest of them – Kervana crater – only reaches 285 kilometers
The most likely. explanation of the observed phenomenon, scientists saw that the geological processes on Ceres could contribute to “overgrowing” craters. This, in turn, suggests that the bowels of the dwarf planet remained “live” a very long time – for example on Mars or on the Moon internal geological activity died down fairly quickly, which is why the surface of these space objects still keeps the memory on
asteroid impact that occurred billions of years ago. at the same geological processes on Ceres, according to the researchers, by their nature different from those observed, for example, on Earth. According to experts, the frozen water and certain salts contained in the bowels of the dwarf planet, when heated as a result of proximity to the sun or the fall of an asteroid can be heated, mixed and produce the so-called kriovulkany.
About the obtained findings, scientists reported on page scientific publication Nature Communications.
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